Blowtorch



Pnenad oct. 3, 1922.

UNITED STATES 1,431,031 PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT E. lPATCIIEL, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

nngw'roncn.

Application iled March 81, 1921. SerialiNo. 457,273.

To all wwrm, t may concern:

Be it `known that I, ROBERT E. PATCHEL, a citizen of the United States, residing vat Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvanla, have invented certain newi and useful Improvements in Blowtorches, of which the following is a specification. i

My invention relates to improvements in blow-torches and has particular reference to A further object of the invention qis to provide a device of the above mentioned character, which may be conveniently held in the hand of the operator, and' shifted tovarious positions, without liabilit of the improper discharge of the liquid giel.

A further object of the invention -is to provide means to cut oli' the supply of vaporized fuel to the burnery tip,'when desired, .the pressure of the vaporizin fuel to be also regulated by the controlllng of current passing to the electrical heating element.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings formin a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a central vertical longitudinal sectional View through a device embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on line 2 2 of Figure 1. v

Fig. 3 is a similar view taken on line 3 3 of Figure 1, i

Fig. 4 is a similar view taken on line 4--4 of Figure 1,

Fig. 5 is a side elevation parts in sectional vertical longitudinal section, of a second form ofthe invention,

Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken on line 6--6 of Figure 5,

Fig. 7 is a similar ,View aken on une 7-7 of Figure 5,.k

Fig. 8 a plan View of a third form o the invention,

Fig. 9 'is a central vertical longitudinalv section through the same.

Fig. l() is a side elevation shown in .Figure 9, with the burner tip mounted/directly thereon, and,

Fig. 11 is a transverse section taken on line 1 1-11 ofv Fig. 9.

In the drawings, wherein for the lpurpose of illustration are shown preferred embodiments of kmy invention, attention beingcalled first to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the numeral 15 designates a tubular bofdy portion, constitutin ,the container for the liquid fuel. This tuular. body portion is provided at its forward end with a head 16', havin la lon i-l `tudinal screw threaded opening 1 for t e reception of a screw threaded extension or nipple 18, formed upon a Iburnerlhead 19.

The burner head vhas a flange 20, adapted to contact with the end of the head 16,' and suitable packing A21 may be interposed between the flange and head,`l preferably in the form of acopper gasket.

Thev head 19 is provided with a longitudinal bore 22, Fig. 2,v 'having an enlarged screw threaded' portionA 23 and a further enlarged screw threaded. portion 24.- A tubular Valve seat 25 is screw threaded within the enlarged bore portion 23 ahd is prosired. The numeral 27 designates a burner tip, which is tubular and 'has a screw threaded shank 28, for insertion within the screw threaded 'bore portion 24, as shown. This burner tip may have a ange 29, to contact with the forward end of the head 19. The upperend of the burner head 19 is provided with a screw threaded recess 30,V within which is arranged an exteriorly screw threaded tubular element or nipple 31, carrying anut orl head 32, which is polygonal, and hence may Abe readily turned by a wrench or tool.. The tubular nipple 31 rotatably receives a cylindrical stem 33, the forward end of which may be provided with a iian 34, spun or turned out from the materia thereof, and half of the stem is positioned in the tubular nipple.

f A1 compressible coil spring 35 surrounds the of" the device upper end of the stem and is conlined between a head 36 thereof and the nut 32. rlhe stem 33 is therefore free to rotate, and is normally held by the spring 35, against longitudinal movement in a forwardly di rection, but should it be desired to lquickly shut ofi" the supply oi" gas to the burner tip, this may be accomplished by pressing the head 36 forwardly, as will be more fully explained. The stem 33 is provided with a longitudinal screw threaded opening 37, receiving the upper screw threaded portion of a valve stem 38. rl`he lower portion of this valve stem has an enlarged diameter and is provided with longitudinal ribs or lugs 39, entering grooves 40. The valve stem car# ries at its forward end a valve 41, adapted to engage upon and within the tubular valve seat 25. llt is thus seen that the valve stem can not turn upon its longitudinal axis, but is free to move longitudinally. The valve stem may therefore be gradually adjusted by turning' the head 36, or it may be'quiclrly moved longitudinally to seat the valve 41, by pressing the head 36 downwardly.

The numeral 42 designates a head or member, carrying an exteriorly threaded tubular nip le or extension 43, adapted to engage wit iin the screw threaded opening of a head 44, formed upon the rear end of the tubular body portion 15.` Packing 45, preferably in the form of a copper gasket, is interposed between the heads 42 and 44, as shown'. The tubular nipple or extension 43 carries a tubular covering element 46 ot' an electrical heating unit, 47 being the heating coil thereof having lead wires 48 and 49. The function of the covering ele-ment 46 is to prevent the liquid fuel from coming in direct contact with the coil 47, as is obvious.

The numeral 50 designates a gas outlet tube, preferabl formed integral with the nipple 18 vand 1n connection with a port or bore 51, leading to the bore 22, as shown. The rear portion 52 of the outlet tube 50 has an increased diameter, and serves as a vaporizing and superheating chamber. The

enlarged tubular portion 52 surrounds tubular covering 46, in spaced relation thereto.

At the rearside of the head 42 is an insulating block 53, secured to the head 42 by screws 54. The block 53 receives socket contacts 55 and 56, which are electrically connected with the wires 48 and 49, respectively,v

Plugs 57 are secured to an insulating base .58 and adapted for insertion within the sockets 55 and 56, for effecting electrical connection. These plugs are connected with lead wires 59. An insulating cap 60 has an opening 61 for the leadwires, and is secured to the base 58. Other suitable means may be employed to feed current to thewires 48 and 49.

is a heat insulating jacket 62, which may be .formed of liber or any 15, 'ormin other material which is a poor conductor oi heat. A metallic ring 63 isfsweated upon the tubular body portion 15, and screw threaded 'lor engagement within the screw threaded end ci the sleeve 62. rlhe sleeve 62 is arranged in spaced concentric relation to the tubular body portion an annular air space 64. The rear end o the sleeve is supported upon the rear end of the head 44, as shown.

The operation of this 'form of the invention is as follows: The tubular nipple 18 with the head 22 may be unscrewed from within the head 16, and the tubular body portion 15 which may be held in an upright position, may be partly filled with liquid fuel, such as alcohol. The tubular nipple is then screwed into-the screw threaded opening 17, to form a tight joint. The tubular body portion 15 preferably contains an amount vof alcohol, so that the level thereof will be slightly below the mouth oi the enlarged portion 52 of the tube 50 when the fdevice is-arranged horir/Lontally. l/lhen the through the enlarged tubular portion 52to the exterior thereof within. the tubular body portion 15. p This heat is transmitted to the alcohol which is readily vaporized and the vapors pass into the enlarged portion 52 of the tube 50 and are hence superheated by travelling in direct contact around the tubular covering 46, as they pass forwardly through the tube 50 and bore 51. The pressure of the vaporized alcohol may be regulated by controlling the amount of current supply to the heating element 47. The volume of gas 'supplied to the burner tip 27 may also be regulated by these means and alsoby turning the head 36 to adjust the valve 41. Should it be desirable to. instantly cut oii' the flow of gas from the burnertip, this may be accomplished by lsuddenly depressing the head 36, whereby the valve 41 is seated. I

In Figures' to 7 inclusive, I have shown-f a secondform of the' device embodying my invention. Inthis form the numeral 65 designates a tubular body portion or liquid container, which is identical with the part 15 of the first form. This tubular body portion carried the burner head 19, identical with the burner head described in detail in 'connection with the first form, it being thought unnecessary to again describe the various parts of this burner head, it being sufficient `to state that the vsame bores, valve I -tu ular nipple 68, engaging in the screw threaded opening of the head 69 of the tubular body portion-65.` Packing 70, preferably in the form of a metallic gasket, is interposed between the coupling element 67 andv head 69. This coupling element carries a tubular gas generating chamber-71, the rear end 72 ofwhich is closed. Thischamber is in direct communication lwith the bore 7 3 of the coupling element 67. The gas outlet tube 66, which in this case has a uniform diameter, throughout its entire length, enters fhe generating chamber 71, in spaced concentric relation thereto, as shown.

The numeral 74 designates an electrical',

heating unit, having a body portion of insulating material and a heating coil 75 therein. 'The heating unit 74 is tubular and surrounds the tubular generating chamber 71. as shown. f

The numeral 76 designates an insulating support, secured to the end of head 72 by a screw 77. The coil 75 has lead wires 78 and 79, connected with metallic tubular sockets 80 and 8-1 respectively, carried by the insulating support 76. These .tubular sockets are adapted to receive the metallic `plugs having connection with the lead wires.

The numeral 82-designates a heat insulating sleeve, surrounding the heating element 74 and associated elements, in spaced concentric relation, and having screw threaded engagement withthe coupling 67, as shown :1t-83.

In operation, the tubular body port-ion 65 receives and holds v,the liquid fuel, lsuch as alcohol, and a portion of this fuel passes into the vaporizing chamber 71", particularly when the device is inclined. In this chamber the liquid is subjected to the heating action of the coil 75, whereby it is vaporized and the vapors pass through the tube 66 -to the burner tip of the burner head. The

pressure of the gas generated is regulated by controlling the volume of current supplied to the coil 75, and'also by manipulation of the valve 41. j

In Figures 8 to 10 inclusive I have shown a device embodying some of the features of the prior devices but having a capacity for holding a larger volume of liquid fuel. In this form the numeral 82 designates a cylindrical shell or body portion, designed to receive and hold the alcohol. This shell is ordinarily` stationary and hence is equipped with a base 83. At its top the inner end of which has a flange 105. The

The shell 82. is suitably filled4 withalcohol shell 82 `is provided with a depending boss 84, having a Screw` threaded opening 85, for receiving a screw threaded plug 86.

This plug carries a 4U-shaped as outlet tube 87, one end of. which lea s into a 70 bore 88. y

The numeral 89 designates a tubular heating element, surroundlng one leg of the U- shaped tube 87 This heating element embodles a coil 90, and lead wires 91, extending 75 vupwardly through the protecting tube 92.

Thesewires pass through a bore 93, and lead to metallic vsockets 94, carried4 by an insulating block 95. This block is suitably secured tothe plug 86. Metallic plugs 95 are secured to an insulating base 96, and are adaptedl for insertion within the metallic sockets 94. Wires are secured to the metallic plugs 95 An insulating cap 97 is car-J ried bythe insulating support 96, as shown. The numeralv 98 designates a T-shaped coupling, having a\vertical bore 99, leading 'into the Ybore 88. This coupling has a horizontal bore 100, .in communication with an enlarged bore 101, which is internally threaded. The numeral 102 designates a screw threaded recess, receiving a screw threaded nipple 103, which is tubular, and rotatably receives a tubular' stem 104, the

tubular stem is turned by a head 106 and ,.1- spring 107 is interposed between-this head and the-head ofthe nipple 103. The numeral 108 designates a valve stem, carryingv a valve 109. This valve stem is provided with ribs 110, slidable in grooves 111.- The valvestem is thus free to move longitudi.- 4 nally but cannot rotate, and the valve stem has screw threaded engagement within the i tubular stem 104,whereby the valve stem may be adjusted longitudinally by turning the tubular valve stem or by moving the tubular valve stem longitudinally.y The valve 109 is adapted to engage a tubular valve vseat 111,held within the.. bore 101. The coupling 112 has` an extension entering the bore l101, and this coupling is connected with a flexible hose 113, carryinga burner tip or nozzle 114. g

The operation of the device is as follows:

or the like, and .current fed to `the heating coil 90. Thevaporized alcohol rises in the, shell and passes down through one arm of the outlet tube 87 and up through the other 120 arm 4into the port or bore 88. The gas will now pass through the bore 99 -and by valve 109 through the coupling 112, and hose 113 to the burner tip 114. The valve 109 may be gradually adjusted by turning the tubular stem 104',` or it lmay be quickly seated or closed by moving this tubular stem forwardly and longitudinally.

In Fig. 10 the device is identical with that shown in Fig. 9, except that the burner 130 tip 114 is mounted directly upon the discharge end of the coupling 98, thus dispensing withthe flexible hose 113.

lt is to be understood that the forms of my invention herewith shown and described, are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, l claim:

1. A blow torch comprising, a tubular body portion for holding liquid fuel, a

burner element connected with the tubular body portion, a tube extending longitudi nally within the tubular body portion and having communication with the interior of the burner element, and an electrical heating element arranged in proximity to the tube.

2. A blow torch comprising, a tubular body portion for holding a liquid fuel, a burner head mounted upon one end of the tubular body portion, a tube connected with `the burner head and extending longitudinally within the tubular body portion, and an electrically operated heatingelement Afor heating the liquid fuel within the tubular body portion.

3. A blow torch comprising, a tubular body `portion for holding liquid fuel and adapted to serve as a handle, a burner head mounted upon one end 'of the tubular body portion, a tube extending longitudinally within the tubular body portion and secured to the burner head, and an electrical heating element arranged near and in concentric relation to a portion of said tube.v

.4. A blow torch comprising, a tubular body portion, a burner head secured to the forward end thereof, a tube connected with the burner head and 'extending longitudinally within the tubular body portion, and an electrical heating element extending into said tube in spaced relation.

5. AA blow torch comprising, a tubular body portion, a burner head carried bythe forward end ofthe tubular body portion, a

Learner tube secured to the burner head and extending longitudinally within the tubular body portion and having a rear portion of enlarged cross sectional area, an electrical heating element extending longitudinally into the enlarged portion of the tube, and means to supply current to the heating element.

6. A blow torch comprising, a tubular body portion, a burner head having a shank to enter the forward end of the tubular body portion, a tube carried by the shank and extending longitudinally of the tubular body portion, a plug extending into the rear end of the tubular body portion, an electrical heatingelement carried by the plug and extending within said tube, and means to supply current to the heating element.

7. A lblow Vtorch comprising, a tubular body portion to serve as a handle, burner head carried by the forward end of the tubular body` portion, a tube secured to the burner head and projecting into the tubular body portion, a heating element extending longitudinally within the tubular body portion in spaced concentric relation to a portion of the tube, means to supply current to the heating element, and a heat insulating sleeve surrounding the tubular body portion in spaced concentric relation and connected therewith.

8. A blow torch comprising, a burner head, having a longitudinal bore and a valve seat, a valve stem movable longitudinally 'within' the bore and incapable of turning upon its longitudinal axis and having-a valve, said valve stem having its rear portion screw threaded, a tubular valve, stem 'having a screw threaded bore to receive 'the screw threaded end of the 'valve stem and being mounted within the rear portion of the burner head to turn and move longitudinally therein, and a spring to oppose the longitudinal movement of the tubular valve stem in one direction.

InV testimony whereof I afix my signature.

ROBERT E. PATCHEL. 

